An Atlas of the English Lakes - A Pictoral Guide

An atlas of beautiful hand-drawn coloured charts of the Lake District’s seventeen lakes and surrounding shores. Together with the author’s notes, they illustrate over 124 miles of shoreline for exploration by canoe or boat, and over 150 miles for walkers to trace on paths, tracks and minor roads.

Aimed primarily at canoeists and kayakers, this survey will hopefully cater for all those interested in exploring the shorelines of the English Lakes be they on foot or afloat, in the saddle or armchair bound.

Important features of the Charts are the routes which take the reader on walks which pursue lake shorelines as closely as proprietorial rights allow. Indeed, only rights-of-way on FOOT follow extensive sections of Elter Water, Wast Water, Ennerdale Water, Brothers Water and Haweswater Reservoir. RAMBLERS will have no difficulty in using them. ‘Townies’ will find, however, that Lake District ‘paths’ include: very steep climbs and descents, steep and smooth rocks, rough and loose stones, wet or boggy stretches. The wearing of lightweight fell-walking boots and careful footwork dispel injury or discomfort. Seasoned visitors to the area assume it will rain before the walk is completed and carry the means to prevent getting soaked or chilled.

RIDERS of HORSES and CYCLES require the Ordnance Survey maps recommended on page 15. Lakes which have a complete circuit of road and bridle/cycle ways offer rewarding and enjoyable excursions. Quiet lanes and tracks are the most pleasant means of visiting the western shores of Windermere. One tour of Ullswater could involve crossing Boredale Hause, a classic objective for ‘rough-stuff’ cycle-tourists and mountain-bikers. Esthwaite Water, Coniston Water, Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwent Water and Thirlmere Reservoir can all be pedalled round by ROAD. Apart from Ullswater and Windermere other lakes circumnavigable by road and BRIDLEWAY are: Grasmere with Rydal Water, Lowes Water and Buttermere.

A burgeoning and welcome number of MINI-BUS services catering for tourists and ramblers are operated by the likes of the National Trust. Information offices supply time-tables and details for these as well as the REGULAR BUS ROUTES which serve communities along lake shores. An amalgam of authorities publish a general time-table/guide for boat-, train-, and bus-users in and around the county, entitled Getting Around Cumbria. Copies should be available from information offices (see appendix). Public transport may be convenient for car-users wishing to link the ends of linear walks. Motor cars or vans are useful for conveying canoes, cycles and other gear or supplies to the scene of outdoor activities.